Container

ABSTRACT

A cup-shaped member having an open side and a circumferential wall with an outwardly extending flange portion bounding the open side. An annular support surrounds the circumferential wall in supporting engagement with the flange portion thereof.

United States Patent [151 3,688,939

Beckers Sept. 5, 1972 CONTAINER 999,672 8/1911 Puffer ..220/10 72 I t H KHOX 1 or lersen Gefimany 1,268,017 5/1918 Knight ..220/13 Asslgneer Hamac-Hnnsella Gmhli, Vwrsen, 1,895,212 1/1933 Smith ..220/15 Ux Germany 1,956,356 4/1934 Justheim ..220/ 10 2,044,081 6/1936 Kjellstrom ..220/ 10 [22] Sept 1969 2,190,844 2/1940 Mills 220/10 [21 Appl. No.: 862,190 2,353,383 7/1944 Bartsch ..220/13 3,130,288 4/1964 Monaco et al ..220/13 X Foreign Applmmon Pnonty Data Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Oct. 1, 1968 Germany ..P 18 00 010.2 Assistant ExaminerJames R. Garrett Attorney-Michael S. Striker [52] US. Cl. ..220/9 R, 220/69 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 25/18 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search A cup-shaped member having an open side and a circumferential wall with an outwardly extending flange portion bounding the open side. An annular support [56] References Clted surrounds the circumferential wall in supporting en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gagement with the flange portion thereof.

1,157,991 Linton ..220/9 R 1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTED SEP 5 I972 JNVENTC'IQ Han, Backer:

B I 24W /L his AITORNEY CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cup-shaped container having an open end with a flange portion extending along the outer periphery of the open end.

Such containers, especially used for the packaging of food and semi-luxuries like tobacco, candies, etc., are made of a thin material such as, for example, aluminum foil.

Although containers of this type are practical for purposes of easy packaging, they have, however, the disadvantage that due to careless or improper handling thereof, the container material is easily damaged or deformed.

Such damaged or deformed packages containing food, etc., usually are very hard to sell both from an aesthetic and a qualitative point of view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Object of the invention therefore is to provide a container for the packaging of articles which is shockand pressure resistant and, in addition, is simple in its construction and attractive in appearance.

Such a container according to the present invention comprises a cup-shaped member having an open side and a circumferential wall with an outwardly extending flange portion bounding the open side, and an annular support surrounding the circumferential wall in supporting engagement with the flange portion thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The single FIGURE of the drawings illustrates a container according to the present invention, with parts broken away to show a cross-section of the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The container shown in the single FIGURE essentially comprises a substantially cup-shaped member 1 which has an open upper end 2, a circumferential wall 3, and a bottom wall 4.

The circumferential wall 3, in the region of the open end 2, is formed into an outwardly projecting flange 5. In this manner, the flange 5 extends annularly along the outer periphery of the open end 2. A cover member 6, preferably made of a heatsealable coated aluminum foil, is provided to enclose the contents of the container within the interior of the cup-shaped member 1 and, to this end, is supported along its periphery 6a, on the plane of the flange 5 and, for example, is sealed thereto.

Surrounding the exterior of the circumferential wall 3, is a continuous substantially sleeve-shaped support 7 which has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. This support 7 is a separate member but forms a tight fit with the cup-shaped member 1.

As shown, the support 7 includes a first longer outer leg 8, a second shorter inner leg 9 and an arcuately curved portion 10, interconnecting the legs 8 and 9.

The upper end 11 of the longer leg 8 includes a curved shoulder portion 12 which supportingly engages a correspondingly curved section 13 of the flange 5 while the inner shorter leg 9 engages the circumferential wall 3 of the cup-shaped member 1.

The lower end of the support 7 is constituted by the curved portion 10 which extends beyond the bottom wall 4.

The inner diameter of the support 7 is somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the cup-shaped member 1 so that in mounting the support 7 about the member 1, a clamping efi'e'ct is established between the inner wall 9 of the support 7 and the circumferential wall 3 of the member 1.

It will be appreciated, at this point, that in assembled condition, as shown in the single FIG., the continuous support 7 supports the cup-shaped member 1 in that the upper end of the support 7 supportingly engages the flange 5 while the lower end 10 of the support rests on the floor.

The sleeve-shaped support 7, which may have a circular or other-than-circular cross-section, preferably is made of a resilient synthetic plastic material and is formed with thin walls which has as an advantage that in case of impact or other pressure exerted on the walls, the same act as a cushion to dampen the impact or pressure thereon.

In this manner, preservation of the articles packed in the container is at all times guaranteed.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

lclaim:

'1. A shock and pressure resistant packaging container comprising a cup-shaped member having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from and about the entire periphery of said bottom wall, and a circumferential flange portion integrally attached to and extending radially outwardly from the top edge of said side wall, said flange portion having a flat circumferential sealing area and an outer circumferential edge; a two-wall annular support element of substantially U-shaped radial cross-section surrounding said side wall of said member with the open end of the U- shaped cross section facing the flange portion, the walls of said annular support element being of unequal height with the wall of lesser height being tightly fitted about said side wall of said cup-shaped member, and the wall of greater height being disposed in spaced relationship to and substantially parallel to said side wall, the upper edge of said support element wall of greater height being provided with an outwardly and upwardly extending groove forming portion in which said circumferential edge of the flange portion is disposed with the bottom of the U-shaped cross-section projecting downwardly below said bottom wall of said cup-shaped member; and a cover of thin heat sealable material to be engaged with and heat sealed to said flat sealing area of said flange portion. I 5 

1. A shock and pressure resistant packaging container comprising a cup-shaped member having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from and about the entire periphery of said bottom wall, and a circumferential flange portion integrally attached to and extending radially outwardly from the top edge of said side wall, said flange portion having a flat circumferential sealing area and an outer circumferential edge; a two-wall annular support element of substantially U-shaped radial cross-section surrounding said side wall of said member with the open end of the U-shaped cross section facing the flange portion, the walls of said annular support element being of unequal height with the wall of lesser height being tightly fitted about said side wall of said cup-shaped member, and the wall of greater height being disposed in spaced relationship to and substantially parallel to said side wall, the upper edge of said support element wall of greater height being provided with an outwardly and upwardly extending groove forming portion in which said circumferential edge of the flange portion is disposed with the bottom of the Ushaped cross-section projecting downwardly below said bottom wall of said cup-shaped member; and a cover of thin heat sealable material to be engaged with and heat sealed to said flat sealing area of said flange portion. 